It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of another true Lightning legend. James G. Carson passed away on March 21, 2021, at 94 years of age.
James, Jim or Gilly as he was known, was a sailor through and through. He was a key member of the Metedeconk River Yacht Club in Brick, New Jersey, starting at a time before it actually had a physical clubhouse and the starting line was marked by a rowboat captained by his sister Margaret. He was instrumental in moving the club to its present location in a beautiful clubhouse on the south side of the river. Jim was Commodore of the Club eleven times and taught sailing to youngsters for forty years.
Jim’s leadership and service reached well beyond the MRYC. He was a long-time volunteer and board member for the International Lightning Class Association and the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association. Jim joined the International Lightning Class in 1949 and served in a number of leadership positions. He served as Chief Measurer in 1960, 1961 and 1970 and as President in 1971. He was the Lightning Central Atlantic District Commodore as well as the District Secretary for many years. For his efforts, Jim was awarded a Life Membership in the Class.
Jim has been a BBYRA Measurer since 1985, is a US Sailing Senior Race Officer and has served as Principal Race Officer for a number of National and International events. He is a two-time recipient of the O.G. Dale Memorial Trophy for outstanding sportsmanship in the BBYRA and in 2001 was honored with the Rae Theodore LaPier Memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement in the fostering and management of sailing on Barnegat Bay. Jim has been nominated to the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
In addition to innumerable regatta championships, Jim won twenty-four Lightning and two Penguin BBYRA Championships, five Lightning Atlantic Coast Championships, several top ten finishes in the Lightning North American Championships, three top five finishes in the Lightning World Championships and, most recently, at age 82, a second in the 2005 Lightning International Masters Championship. He was the 1957 Penguin National Champion. He sailed in regattas all over the United States as well as in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Italy and Finland.
Jim has been universally recognized for his dedication to introducing young people to the joy of sailing. In the early 1970’s, Jim provided the leadership for the creation of the Lightning Junior North American Championships. As time passes, the list of winners of this regatta have gone on to be successful through all the major continental class championships.
Jim's former crew members are part of a special fraternity. Jim has had too many crew members over the years to count. His influence resulted in Junior sailors going on to college sailing, Olympic sailing, selections as Yachtsmen or Yachtswomen of the year or making a profession within the sailing community. Others have thrived in other professions as doctors, lawyers, etc. Most are still sailing, pursuing the love of the sport that Jim instilled in them.
Jim attended Swarthmore College and the Merchant Marine Academy. He served in the Merchant Marines in the Pacific at the end of WW II and shortly thereafter.
He worked as a chemical engineer for DuPont from 1950 to 1983, but, as he admits, "I worked so I could sail."
In Jim's honor, donations may be sent to the Metedeconk River Yacht Club Junior Program, 43 Tilton Road, Brick, NJ 08723.
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From George Francis:
I am significantly influenced by Jim’s presence in my life, as were both my mother and my father. In addition, the number of people who Jim touched in the sailing world is almost incalculable.
Jim wasn’t a terribly diverse individual. Conversation about things unrelated to the sailing world typically were short lived. However, he was laser focused on the sailing world. It didn’t matter whether it was tactics, conditions, race management, bringing juniors along in the advanced lessons/crew environment, conversation was broad, and you had to make some time.
He was always an ardent competitor and a demanding skipper. Anyone who ever sailed with Jim would have walked away a better sailor as a result of the experience.
It has been my pleasure old Friend...
This is late 40s from the left Charlie Starkey, Jim Carson, George Francis. Not sure what trophy Jim is holding, we know they were Jim’s first BBYRA crew.
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From Jay Lutz:
When asked to write a few words about Jim in his passing, so many memories rushed back to me. Memories from both on- and off-the-water, particularly from my youth sailing days. As I reflected on the various stories, I recognized the incredibly positive impact of Gilly on my life and on the life of many, many others in his role as sailing coach, but more importantly, as a life mentor. Gilly sailed out of Metedeconk River YC and he proudly wore our YC colors from morning to night! He was a bachelor who was married to our club and Lightning sailing. He never hesitated to express his opinions (often times strong) about the direction the club and the class should be heading. He volunteered more time to the YC club and the Lightning Class over the years than anyone (and we had/have some incredible volunteers!).
Sailing with Gill
First, let me say Gilly possessed a LOT of patience teaching us to sail, in general, and Lightning crewing specifically. He never got upset (at least I don’t remember) during racing so we, as crew were able to maintain our excitement and enthusiasm after each race/regatta, always eager and ready for the next one… He was generous and paid for all aspects of regattas. He even let us sail his boats in local events while he was race committee. The crew members took turns steering and this is where I got my first chance to hone my skills at the helm.
I had the pleasure of sharing most of the Gilly era of sailing (from 1972-79) with Michael Schon (AKA the “Fog”). Oh man what fun we had! Here are a couple short stories.
It was 1973, Lightning NA’s in Tawas Bay. During the qualifying series Gilly, Michael and I were on port tack and Mark Bryant was on starboard, it was blowing about 18-20. I said, “Gill see the boat of starboard?” He says, “Yes, we will cross, just hike!” Next thing I know Gilly eases main, heads down 90 degrees and Michael and I who were just hiking hard are now under water on the windward side as we go to leeward of Mark on starboard… As we now are heeling to windward, we hook Mark’s mast pulling it down and dragging it away as Mark is part crying and part yelling “Gilly, what are doing? My mast!” We pulled the top part of that mast about a 200yds before we figured out how to get it off! It looked like a torpedo going through the water!
It was 1974, Lightning NA’s at the Cleveland Yachting Club. It was during the time when streaking was a thing… I don’t remember much of the racing. Just Jim Dressel and crew up getting their 4th place awards when all hell broke loose in the banquet hall. Enough said… Who were those streakers?? Maybe Greg “Stubby” Fisher?? We may never know.
It was 1975 Nashville Blue Nose regatta. Gilly saw us entering a bar next to the Grand ‘Ole Opry and said, “I’m out of here, you’re on your own with the FOG”. Well, I didn’t do a good job of it and next thing I know the FOG is in a battle at the bar and gets smashed over the head with a chair. He sailed the next day (we won) with a “foggy” head and black eye (see photo below). Gilly never asked what happened.
It was 1975, Barnegat Bay Saturday race. Winning the Barnegat Bay Championship was important to him. I think he won like 20+ years in a row. He even let us, his crew steer. We finished the 1975 NA’s on a Friday and had a 16 hour drive back to NJ. Jim wanted to race the Saturday Bay race to qualify and to win (again). Well, since we were too young to drive, Gilly drove all the way and we just made it to the start in time. The problem was we hadn’t eaten in 24 hrs and Gilly had a couple beers putting the boat together. Not good. We rounded the weather mark in first, but Gilly had rigged the spinnaker, you guessed it, sideways! Up it went and he and Michael convinced me it was working better that way! Yikes! Well, luckily, we caught boats on the final upwind leg to secure his (21st? 22nd? 23rd? I don’t know) consecutive Barnegat Bay Championship.
Here are some names of his crew over the years that I remember from the early days: John Scott, Billy Neuman, Frank Dockery, Phil Guercia, Mark Niaulis, Bruce Fahrenwald, Fred Worwick, Jimmy Schon, Donnie Schon, Tommy Schon, Michael Schon, Kipp Heacock, Ted Forhecz, George Francis. AND many more…(from before 1980).
Gilly made it FUN!
While Jim pushed to do well (he has many, many regatta wins to prove it), he also made the after sailing a LOT OF FUN! I can remember many a Saturday Gilly would tow any interested Lightning an hour or two down Barnegat Bay in his powerboat called the Schnitz to race and then to PARTY on the way back whether you won or didn’t… Some were epic sailor stories started here! Like the time Michael was late for the Saturday tow and had to jump off the local bridge as the tow went under it on the way to the races! I am smiling thinking of these hilarious memories, and thankful that Jim introduced me to the sport of sailing and to many lifelong friendships that I cherish.
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From Michael Schon: Goodbye Old Friend
My sailing life with Jim Carson started at the age of 14. By my calculations that is 51 years. I was asked to crew in the Atlantic Coast Championships, which were being held on Barnegat bay. Kipp Heacock was in charge of keeping me in line that weekend. We won our first regatta together right out of the shoot with three bullets. Had my first scotch and water at the cocktail party and I was in for the duration.
Our first big adventure was the 1973 Worlds Championship at the Buffalo Canoe Club. We survived the roller coaster at Crystal Beach amusement park. It was wooden and very old. Maybe not such a good idea. Jim, Kipp and I sailed together, and Jay sailed with John Teigland and Lola. That’s one beautiful reason to jump ship. We sailed well, but Bruce Goldsmith was the man at that regatta. Bruce said he saw a wind shift in the smoke coming off a ship out in the lake, which caused him to bang the right corner, and the rest is history.
Now for those of you that have not sailed at the Canoe Club, they have a long pier that goes a ways out into the lake because the water is only 2 feet deep off the beach. All the international flags are flying out on the dock. For the closing ceremonies they have all the different countries send a representative to take their flag down and fold it up. They also have a world championship flag. Jim just mentions that he would love to have it for the juniors, which were coming up at our home club, Metedeconk River Yacht Club. The plan took shape. We would send someone dressed like they belonged in the procession and take it down along with all the other countries. We had just the guy to pull it off. Kipp’s brother Allen. After standing out on the dock and looking very official, he folded the flag up and tucked it under his arm like all the other and proceeded to join the procession off the pier. Big smiles from team Carson. Everything went smoothly until we put the flag up at the junior championship and Ed Roseberry saw it and said what the hell is that flag doing here? Jim had to answer for that one. Well-played boys.
Jim and I spent 20 years sailing Saturdays in the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association (BBRYA) together and winning 20 straight. Sundays were club races and debriefs on the back of the Schnitz drinking beers. Lots of life’s lessons discussed in depth. Hahaha!
Most Saturdays started with breakfast at Jim’s compound where he would make bacon, eggs and toast. I just never understood why he never removed the bacon grease before scrambling the eggs. It’s no picnic to spend a day on the boat after woofing down greasy eggs. It goes through you like a greased wheezer.
Jim was very organized and punctual. If he said the tow leaves the dock at 9:15, it left at 9:15. I understood that and would never want to screw up the fantastic opportunity I had to sail and learn from one of the great ones. One Saturday morning, I headed to the club to meet the tow. The road to the club was backed up two miles with beach goes and renters on Saturday. Bad planning on my part. I parked my car about two miles from the bridge and started running. There were no cell phones back then. I’m not sure what Jim was thinking, but if you said you were going to be there. He counted on it. So, after a morning run, I had timed it perfectly, the bridge was open, and the tow was just about through. I yelled down to Jim and he very nonchalantly yelled back “let’s go, jump, you can swim.” There was no time to think so off I went. Got up on a lightning and off to sail we went. Never spoke a word about it.
This has got to be the kicker. We were sailing the NAs at Cleveland Yacht Club, maybe 1974. The awards were dragging along, and two young sailors were approached by a senior sailor with a wager. I will buy you a case of beer if you streak during the awards. Legend has it that these two sailors felt up to the challenge. After a brief strategy meeting in the parking lot, they put clean underwear on the heads and nothing else. Not even socks. They approached the front of the club, opened the doors, and ran up the stairs never expecting to run into a line of food servers. They both turned around and ran back down the stairs. Streaker #2 had a malfunction when his underwear turned sideways, and he ran into a post at the bottom of the staircase. Streaker #1 dragged him out by the arm. Haha. They regrouped in the parking lot. No plan B until they were in the bar and approached by the head chef. Not sure how he recognized them. He said, “meet me in the kitchen I have some freezer bags that will fit perfect.” The plan was now back on and the kitchen staff was in on it. They were now standing with just bags on their heads in the kitchen behind the swinging doors waiting for their cue. These young fellows have always wondered what the kitchen help was looking at while they were waiting. Boom! Jimmy Dresell gets called up to for his trophy and these guys are sprinting across the stage and out the others side with everything swinging in the breeze. Mrs. Fisher thought she had a shot at snagging one of them as they went by, but adrenaline took over and they vanished into the night. A little while later Jim came into the bar with that look on his face of all knowing but never to be spoken of. The mystery of the two young streakers was brought up again in Hilton Head when Jimmy Dresell got his trophy and waited for the two masked men to appear again.
2005 World Masters Championship in Concon, Chile was the last hurrah for the three of us. Gilly, Jay and the fog. Big waves, big wind and lots of carnage. In the last race, we rounded the last weather mark in fifth. The waves were so big that boats around you would appear and disappear in seconds. I slid forward to hoist the spinnaker when all of a sudden, I hear Jay say in my ear “Don’t Go” and I ask why. He says take a look at Jim. I look back at Jim and he looks like a deer in headlights. We continued climbing up waves and surfing down the backs until it was time to jibe. We jibed and put up the chute. Then proceeded to pass three boats that had flipped on the jibe we ended up finishing 2nd. It was easy for us to forget that Jim was 78 years old and sly like a fox. After 35 years of sailing together with Jim, we were still the students.
There were so many stories, memories and life lessons the three of us had together that it would fill up a book. Jim is and always will be to me a mentor, friend, and the most influential person in my life. You have left your mark on so many.
What a ride! RIP old friend. I’ll be knocking back a rusty nail to celebrate your life.
FOG
Jim's 90th Birthday, with Michael
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From Bill Bogardus:
I never had a grandfather, both of mine had passed long before I was born. Jim filled that role for me when I was 14. As a Carson crew, Jim taught me how to sail at an international level, took me to many exotic sailing locations, and was a role model that you could have fun with, including a Busch beer from the Fuzzy cooler. I could recount so many wonderful memories, but instead I decided to focus on the attributes of Jim that I admired the most.
Jim was always focused on improvement. I missed Jim’s dominate years as a sailor, and by the late 80s and early 90s, we were a borderline Blue fleet team. That didn’t keep Jim from trying to improve every day. When we qualified for the Blue fleet in Toronto (with Ryan Dunn) and sailed well on Day 1 of the North Americans, it was the culmination of a several-year build up focused on improvement. I will forever admire his perseverance.
Jim had the most amazing friendships. When I heard Jim had passed, I immediately contacted Matt Burridge and Angie Hayden. Jim was never happier than when he was at a regatta with Lal or Fisk. In return for being a Carson crew, Fisk let me sleep on his couch multiple times, and Lal trailered my first Lightning from St. Louis to New Jersey for a plate of pasta. Membership in the Carson crew had privileges, which included lifelong friendships.
Jim was always one to give back to the causes he championed. Most notably, he did this with his time, serving in positions of leadership at Metedeconk River Yacht Club, BBYRA, CAD and the Lightning Class. Jim wasn’t going to complain about a problem, he was intent on fixing the problem. His willingness to sacrifice his time, I think, is his greatest virtue. It is no surprise to me that two of the Carson crew currently serve on the Lightning Class Executive Committee.
Jim, more than anything, was always a teacher. His Thursday night class was a junior sailing version of Top Gun, before the movie was ever a thought. Even when we sailed poorly, there was a learning moment to be discussed, but always in a calm manner. Jim’s teaching never ended for me, as he remained a most trusted sounding board as I progressed from crew to driver. Jim excitedly fed me information from the International Masters prior to the 2009 Worlds. When the Worlds was over, he called to say how proud he was of my results. 20th is not a super result for many of Jim’s former pupils, but he understood how much it meant to me.
The longer I live, the longer I realize there will never be another Jim Carson. Fair winds and following seas Fuzzy.
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From Joe Buczkowski:
Yes, his first love was the Lightning. He used the boat to teach advanced sailing to older youth sailors and ensure they had a boat and support for Junior Lightning regattas from NAs to Youth Worlds. However, he didn't stop there. It did not matter if you sailed a Pram, Sunfish, Blue Jay, Laser or the boat of the day he was there to support youth sailing. He routinely brought his boat the "Snitz" to just about every Junior event on Barnegat Bay towing the kids in their boats to the event. Supporting in every way, mark boat, RC, safety boat. It didn't matter if it was a Metedeconk hosted event or another club, he was there to help. I remember many regattas where he would provide his boat for us Juniors to tie up, climb in and eat lunch. He would even provide suggestions based on what he saw to us.
All that is left to be said is a traditional Naval Honor for Retirement Ceremonies which I have modified for this situation, but I feel is appropriate:
For many years Jim Carson has stood the watch.
While many of us found reasons not to dedicate more time to sailing
Jim Carson stood the watch.
When we had an issue with a boat or repair or question on sailing Jim was there, standing the watch.
He stood the watch so that we, the sailing community would become better and be left in good hands knowing some day we would stand the watch.
Today we say:
"Shipmate" - the watch stands relieved.
Relieved by those you have trained, guided and led.
"Shipmate" you stand relieved... we have the watch.
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1948 Carson's First Lightning #1004, "Flying Mist" the photo above (right) from 1950. Left photo from 1954 in #5284 "Sparks". Below are both from 1954, (left) Central Atlantic District Championship and (right) the US Team that went to Argentina for the ARG/US Pan American Championship.
Carson (above left) in 1956 leading the fleet in St Pete in #5284 "Sparks". (Above right) 1960 Deep South Regatta, Savannah, GA in #6884 "Trident". Below highlights Jim's continued interest in getting more people on the helm. From the Fleet 34 Report in the 1958 Yearbook.
1961 (above left) St Petersburg, FL. 1963 (above right) Miami, FL. Below left 1964 President's Cup sailing #8484, "Trident II". Below right is the Metedeconk River Yacht Club 1965.
1965 Quantico Regatta, above left. 1968 Central Atlantic District Championship, above right. By that time Jim was sailing #9984 "Flying Scud". Below left, 1975 Frigid Digit. Below right is an article written by Jim, it shows his passion for sailing and the Lightning Class.
2007 (above left) Jim was awarded the Karl Smither Award for his Corinthian Spirit, Class Mentorship and Lightning Enthusiasm. Bill Clausen, Jim Carson and Fisk Hayden (above right) in 2010. Below Jim awarded the James G. Carson Lightning North American Championship Trophy to the 2006 winner. Below right, Jim and a bunch of Fleet 34 friends celebrate his 90th Birthday.
